Stereopticon slide



Nlmmh S25, 1941. s, GER- z STEREOPTICON SLIDE Filed Sept. 1, 1938 2 Sheetg-Sheet l March 25, 1941; S G 2,235,876

STEREOPTICON SLIDE Filed Sept. 1, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 12 ii 17 6 5 74 \qaawerw zaiaz 2 haorrz gs- Patented Mar. 25, 1941 UN [TED STATES PATENT OFF I CE sTEREoPTIcoNsLIDE Samuel M. Gertz, Chicago; 1112, assignor to Bet tram Wm. Coltman, Kenilworth, I 111. Application September 1, 1938', SeriaTNo. 227,941

9 Claims: (01. 27 3-142) This invention relates I .to stereopticon slide carriers having one or more movable members with markings thereonadapted tobe projected upon a screen in conjunction with markingsqon 1 game slides for the purpose of playing numerous games.

Stereopticon game slides as heretofore constructed have been limited to the playing of "a single game. Inability to change the games has caused these devices to lose their popularity, and therefore, their value as amusement devices. I have found that devices of the prior art have been constructed in a manner preventing rearrangement or substitution of parts to secure new operating combinations due to structural limitations resulting from the form of drive employed.

An object of the invention is to provide a stereopticon game slide carrierof new design whereby a simple and efiicient form of structure isobtained that is readily capable of permitting the playing of a great number of interesting games.

A further object of theinvention is to provide a mechanical .drive for the rotating members whereby they may be arranged to readily cooperate with changeable slide members to furnish many different types and kinds of games that will be interesting and amusing to the participants.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new and novel drive for the rotating members whereby independent whirling impulses may be provided, not only in different directions but also at different rates of speed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new and novel mounting forthe'rotatable 5 members.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel unitary mounting for the rotating members that will permit said independent movement or whirling impulsesand also allow movement of one of the rotating members in a reverse direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in the device disclosed, a new and novel type of replaceable slide member capable of changing the type and kind of game played without removing the device from its mounting on the stereopticon machine;

Other objects and advantages of the invention 59 will be apparent from the following detail specification when taken in connection with the accompanying dnawing-s'which form a part hereof;

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective viewof a stere'opticon machine illustrating a device embodying the in-- ventionmounted thereon in its position of operation;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the interior of the device with its cover removed;

Fig. 3 is a viewof theinside face of the cover;

Fig. 4 is alongitudinal sectional view of the device taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailsectional view through the" mounting of the rotating members;

Fig; 6 is a similar View of an alternative embodiment of the invention illustrating .a rotating member. adapted to be operated throughthe rotation of theother rotating members and adapted to continue. its rotation at a different rate of speed upon cessation of operation of the driving force; and.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of another form of drive that may be used.

Essentially, the device comprises a housing I, a cover 2, a chamber 3, a pair of rotating members 4 .and 5 inkchamber 3, a transparent glass window 6 providing a mounting for rotating members 4 and 5, a replaceable slide I carried in cover 2, and any suitable mechanical drive extending out of and to the right of chamber 3, such as flexible belts 8 and 9. I

Window 6 is removably carried in a recess III on :theinside face of housing I. It is centrally disposed with respectto window opening I I and held inremovaible relation'by'means of a wire spring I2 seated in a groove I3-,jcut in housing I partially about'recess l0; Eachrotatable member 4 and 5 is adapted to be centrally bored to receive collars I4 and I 5 which are of a thickness slightly greater than the thickness .of rotatingmembers 4 and'5.

Collars I4' and I 5 are centered in the central bore of theserotating members so that they willbe flush with one face of each rotating memberibut will project slightly beyond the opposite face. These'coll-ars maybefixed-ly securedto rotating members 4 and 5 and are adapted to be mounted upon a bushing sleeveI G'carried upon front window 6 by a bolt I'I threaded into bushing sleeve I6, a washer I8 being interposedbetween the head ofbol-t I1 and the outside'face of window 6. Each collar I4 and 2 I5 is recessed in one of its faces. Collar I4 is adapted to. receive a washer I9 seated therein, while collar: I5. is adaptedto receive a shoulder 2fl"of corresponding depth disposed at the end of sleeve lfiwhereby to hold these collars and their rotating members 4 and 5 in position upon window 6 when bolt I7 is threaded into sleeve IS. A suitable spacing'collar ZI is provided between windowt and rotating member 4. Awasher 22 may be interposed between collars I4 and I5. Washer 22, together with the projecting portion of collar I5, provides suitable spacing means .to keep rotating members 4 and 5 in spaced relation and at the same time provide a mounting for these members creating minimum friction when rotated. In fact, these parts create an antiiriction mounting that permits exceptionally free rotation of members 4 and 5.

Each rotating member may be made of glass or other transparent material suitable for the purpose for which they are intended. They are provided with peripheral rings 23 and 24, each having a groove to receive the flexible driving members 8 and 9. Rotatable members 4 and 5 may be made of a diameter larger than the diameter of window opening I I so that rings 23 and 24 will not interfere with the light rays projected through the rotating members 4 and 5 and window I I. Members 4 and 5 may have markings 26 and 21, respectively, adapted for chance registration with symbols or markings on slide I when these rotating members come to rest after a whirling impulse through the driving relation of flexible members 8 and 9.

To determine the game to be played, transparent slide I carried in cover 2 is provided in a manner permitting ready replacement so as to change the kind of game at will, and, if so desired, while housing I remains mounted upon the stereopticon machine 30. Fig. 1 illustrates how slide I may be readily removed and replaced by a similar slide that will change the kind of game being played. Slide I may be carried within housing I in any suitable way, but, for purposes of illustration, it may be slidably carried in a recess 3| provided in cover 2 and held in position by a spring finger 32 secured to cover 2 at 33. A stop pin 34 assures central positioning of slide I with respect to rotating members 4 and 5 and window I I.

It will be apparent that the markings upon slide I will determine the game to be played and that the winner will be determined by the chance registration of either or both markings 2-6 and 21 cooperating with some marking on slide 1 when the rotating members 4 and 5 come to rest after a whirling impulse. The use of two rotating members 4 and 5 with their markings 25 and 21 increases the number of games that may be played. It is also contemplated that either marking may individually cooperate with markings on slide I and that certain combinations of registration of both markings with markings on slide I may be used to determine the winner. Many difierent games may thus be played to furnish appropriate entertainment in the home.

Rotating members 4 and 5 are removably carried as a unit upon wind-ow 6. Window 6 may be readily removed from its recess ID by the release of wire spring I2 from its recess I3. Hence, window 6 carrying rotating members 4 and 5 may be removed as a unit so that either one or both of these members may be replaced by others, if so desired. The form of mounting of rotating members 4 and 5 upon window 6 is extremely simple. The parts are arranged to place a minimum strain upon window 6 so as to prevent cracking thereof, yet the mounting allows tree and easy rotation of rotating members 4 and 5 and a continued whirling action atter cessation of the drive.

Moreover, the type of mounting above described for rotating members 4 and 5 advantageously provides means for carrying and rotating a third member in the form of a transparent disk shown in Fig. 6, having thereon a marking similar to markings 26 and 21 to increase the fascination attached to this type of device when a chance registration of a third marking is required in connection with th chance registrations of two other markings in order for a winner to score. This fascination is particularly obtainable in the present instance by the free whirlmg action of the disk 40 when members 4 and 5 cease to be driven. When belts 8 and 9 cease to drive members 4 and 5, the latter will continue for a time to rotate freely but in opposite directions. However, during the period belt 8 drives member 4, disk 40 will rotate in unison therewith. When belt 8 ceases to drive member 4, the triotion drive created between member 4 and disk 4!] will no longer exist, whereupon disk 40 sets up a whirling action at a speed independent of member 4 and the marking thereon then begins to rotate at a different rate than marking 26 on member 4. As soon as this independent rotation of the marking on 40 starts, a new element of a chance winning is set into action so as to arouse an added interest in the finish of the play.

The device shown in Fig. 6 is substantially the same as shown in Fig. 5. An enlarged bushing 4| is tapped to receive a bolt 42 that is adapted to thread in a stud 43 having an enlarged integrally formed disk 44. Bushing 4! is likewise provided with a collar 45 at on end. At the other end, it is cored to receive stud 43 therein. Member 5 may ride directly upon bushing 4| while a sleeve 46 may be interposed to carry members 4 and 40 due to their rotation in the same direction. Spacing collars 48 may be disposed between these rotating members and also between member 40 and window 6.

The devices above described are mechanically simple and inexpensive to construct and operate.

They afford the playing of games not heretofore possible and have unlimited use.

As stated, pulley collars 23 and 24 on members 4 and 5 are mechanically driven by belts 8 and 9. The latter extend to the right in housing I and encircle about a combination pulley 50 having grooves 5| and 52. By virtue of this construction, grooves 5| or 52 may be of difierent diameters to differentiat the rate of speed of members 4 and 5 rotating in opposite directions, which feature likewise increases the interest in the finishing operation of the games that may be played, and which I believe I am the first to suggest in a structure of this type.

Pulley 50 may be carried upon a stud shaft 54 mounted in a bearing 55 formed upon housing I and operated by a hand crank 56 as shown in Fig. '7, or by other suitable mechanical means. One such means may be a small motor 58 disposed in an enlargement on housing I, which forms a chamber 51 in which the motor may be mounted. Shaft 54 may then be connected to this motor 58. However, I believe that I am also the first to provide, in a device of this type, a unitary construction in which a single housing may so compactly carry the rotating members, their driving connections and a rotary electric motor for the same, that this housing may be easily mounted upon the front of and carried by a stereopticon machine without resulting in the provision of a cumbersome structure.

As shown in Fig. 1, a bracket 60 having a bottom piece GI and a top 62 comprises the mounting for housing'l upon the front of the stereopticon ma- 2,235,876 chine 30.- screwstsmay-beusedto clamp ghousmg I firmly imposition.

In a stereopticon game slide, -I believe -I am the first to provide rotatable-elements,-broadly, that i Have markings thereon which will rotate at differentspeeds, and evenln different directions, so as to enliven the interest in the game as it continues to approach the finish of the play whereby to increase the interests of the participants in the winning score. I believe that I am also the first to provide a stereopticon slide carrier having, in combination with one or more rotating elements, a game slide that may be replaced at will to change the game being played without requiring the removal of the device from its mounting upon the stereopticon machine. Accordingly, I shall claim these features broadly, and do not intend to be limited to the exact structure disclosed herein, which has been illustrated merely as a preferred embodiment thereof.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the gist of my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adopt the same for use under varying conditions of service, without eliminating certain features, which may properly be said to constitute the essential items of novelty involved, which items are intended to be defined and secured to me by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A stereopticon slide of the type described comprising a marginal frame formed with a central chamber, a slidably removable transparent plate carried by said frame having a series of annular symbols or markings thereon, a pair of transparent disks, means for rotatably and coaxially supporting said disks in said housing on the projection axis of said transparent plate to provide for chance registration of symbols or markings on said disks with said symbols or markings on said slidably removable plate, said disks being supported in said housing independently of said slidably removable plate, and a drive for said disks, said drive including means for imparting whirling impulses to said disks at different speeds and in opposite directions.

2. A stereopticon slide of the type described comprising a marginal frame formed with a central chamber, said frame having a slot therein, a transparent plate removably carried in said slot having symbols or markings thereon, and a game device in said chamber and opposite said transparent plate comprising a pair of transparent disks provided with symbols or markings thereon adapted to cooperate with said symbols or markings on said transparent plate, means for supporting said disks centrally in said chamber for rotatable movement opposite said transparent plate, and means for imparting whirling impulses to said disks at different speeds.

3. A stereopticon slide of the type described comprising a marginal frame formed with a central chamber, said frame having a slot therein, a transparent plate removably carried in said slot having symbols or markings thereon and a game device in said chamber and opposite said transparent plate comprising a pair of transparent disks provided with symbols or markings thereon adapted to cooperate with said symbols or markings on said transparent plate, means for supporting said disks centrally in said chamber for rotatable movement opposite said transparent plate, and means for imparting whirling impulses to said disks in opposite directions.

4. A stereopticon slide of the type described comprising a frame, a :pair .of spaced transparent: platescarried .by said frame, a disk .betweensaid plates, Jmeans for.rotatablysupporting said disk on thet projection axisflof said plates; said .disk having symbols or markings thereon adapted for chance registrations with symbols or markings on one of said transparent plates, said supporting means being carried by the other plate, means for imparting whirling impulses to said disk, and means on said frame for removably carrying said symbol-bearing plate independently of said disk carried by said other plate.

5. A stereopticon slide of the type described comprising a frame, a pair of transparent plates carried by said frame, a pair of rotatable disks between said plates having symbols or markings thereon adapted for chance registration with symbols or markings on one of said plates, means carried by the other plate for coaxially supporting said disks in independent rotatable relation with respect to each other and on the projection axis of said plate, means for imparting whirling impulses of different speeds to said disks, and means for removably carrying said symbol-bearing plate upon said frame independently of said supporting means for said disks.

6. A stereopticon slide of the type described comprising a frame, a slidably removable transparent plate, a pair of rotatable disks having symbols or markings thereon adapted for chance registration with symbols or markings on said plate, means carried upon said frame for coaxially supporting said disks in independent rotatable relation with respect to each other and on the projection axis of said plate, and means for imparting whirling impulses to said disks, said disks being carried by their said supporting means independent of said slidably removable transparent plate.

7. A stereopticon slide of the type described com-prising a pair of transparent plates, a frame for holding said plates in spaced relation, said frame having slot-like means for removably carrying one of said plates to permit replacement thereof by another but similar plate having different symbols or markings thereon than the symbols or markings on the plate removed, a game device disposed between said pair of plates comprising a pair of independently rotatable disks, means for rotatably and coaxially supporting said disks on the projection axis of said plate, said disks having symbols or markings thereon for cooperation with the symbols or markings on said removable plate, there being pulley grooves in the peripheries of said disks, and a belt for each groove for imparting independent whirling impulses to said disks.

8. A stereopticon slide of the type described comprising a pair of transparent plates, a frame for holding said plates in spaced relation, one of said plates having symbols or markings thereon, said frame having slot-like means for removably carrying said plate, a game device comprising peripherally grooved rotatable disks, means for rotatably and coaxially supporting said disks on the projection axis of said plates, said disks having symbols or markings thereon for cooperation with the symbols or markings on said removable plate, a pulley with a plurality of grooves therein supported upon said frame, a belt for each peripheral disk groove for engagement in the grooves of said pulley, and means for driving said pulley to impart independent whirling impulses to said disks.

9. A stereopticon slide carrier comprising in combination a housing and a game device carried,

thereby, said game. device comprising rotating means disposed in said housing having symbols or markings thereon, and a removable slide carried by said housing on the projection axis of said ro tating means and having symbols or markings thereon adapted to cooperate with the symbols or markings on said rotating means, said housing having a slot-like means for removably carrying said slide or a like slide having the same or different symbols or markings thereon.

SAMUEL M. GERTZ. 

